Tape dispenser

ABSTRACT

A tape dispenser for use with a roll of tape having a curved interior surface, and an exterior surface concentric to such interior surface. The dispenser comprises an arcuate, resilient bearing member arranged to engage the interior surface of the roll of tape, a tape-cutting assembly arranged to engage the exterior surface of the roll of tape, and a mounting structure for securing together the bearing member and the tape-cutting assembly in positions for engaging the interior and exterior surfaces, respectively, of the roll of tape.

United States Patent Inventor [72] Akira lkeda Los Altos Hills, Calif. [21 Appl. No. 802,382 [22] Filed Feb. 26, 1969 [45] Patented Jan. 19, 1971 [7 3 Assignee Sam I. lshigo San Jose, Calif.

[54] TAPE DISPENSER 13 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 225/65 [5 l] Int. Cl.....' B26f 3/02 [50] Field of Search 225/65, 66, 67, 7 1 s e [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,609,877 225/65X 9/1952 Hanington 2,626,666 1/1953 Coldiron 225/65 2,731,084 l/l956 Burns 225/65 3,283,977 11/1966 Schluchter 225/65 Primary ExaniinerAndrew R. J uhasz Assistant ExaminerLeon Gilden Attorney-Jack M. Wiseman ABSTRACT: A tape dispenser for use with a roll of tape having a curved interior surface, and an exterior surface concentric to such interior surface. The dispenser comprises an armate, resilient bearing member arranged to engage the interior surface of the roll .of tape, a tape-cutting assembly arranged to engage the exterior surface of the roll of tape, and a mounting structure for securing together the bearing member and the tape-cutting assembly in positions for engaging the interior and exterior surfaces, respectively, of the roll of tape.

PATENIEuJmelsn 3556367 INVENTOR. AKIRA IKEDA ATTORNEY serves to overcomethe above-disc I v I countered in both the ntanufacturefand useof thcitape dispen 3 sersltnownin thelprioraart.,- 'Ihe tape'dispenserofthepresent ,2? n

' invention serves to aidthefrctnovaltape,-such I e i n omedy-wit m ns-Mme: n w tion. the tape dispense r 'offthe invention ausmpaiata ay t I to Iemploy Asfone" advah'tage in respect of I I v fth i it m q Wastes-flee ing on a roll of "upon'which it isrnountedjoesjnot'require I i er to'cdtit Stile fdrill drool/til -pa r entjto o l illed it the structe din I, Show" n sds am lqfl w inven -roses; 1'

.t BA KG Q Dom -m m The present invention relute storolls 'oltape. suchias. e.'g.-.

' adhesive tape; and more particularly-tofa device for aiding the I dispensing of tapefront such a roll .'-Tape.dispensers have been I W nq ni in, h rationv a uU-S; Bat nts di c sin jtape dis'pe'nsers are asfollow's: U.S.:Pat -v,Ns. 2.40l .286; 3,l .3w

' and 3.l09 ,5 7 0. Ihe-'k'nown dispensers haveghowever; ex-

' hibited a number. of -disativar ta'ges; vvitir respect to both their manufacture and use. Thus..many of the, known tape dispensers hav'ebeen ofcor'nplex structure; the iiialiulacture thereof 1 M o a-W W. u-a dit sn zmn p thc I I I I Iwn jinfthle art have been imtt -lll to v a v- A P' t'mlar when 'e mtsrs nf s emp m t" I of any ,of the khown'tape dispensers has beenthe'necessit'y of mart-v Omar-switch;

, The pretest@iiiierhitiiiihiid; I

thereof, the tape The timemar e: of t m sa er minbeingdiagrammaticallyr m I I FIG.3 is an 'enlarg'ed perspective-view ant-e, tapedispeitsr {150 Plate 241:! th ihnsf-enu cute "is ithereofQis secured in "suita- 'pair offlanges36J8respectively.

"some: who d disadvantages en ccordance withthe invention;- theidispenser being FIG. '2 .is'aqfragmentary:sideelevatiorial -vtewjof the tape I dispenser and rollfof tape. of FlGzgl, the movement oi II the dispenser on the roll; and. the removaliiftape from'the member T9" z I; I I I I I ,1 I .I I I I I The tape-cutting assembly 22 also-Iprovidesla tape-engage mentgi mpenz. The e er-72, is in theform'of a bat bittglpcatfed adjacentthe respectiv'e'side edg es'fl of the 1 plates; 42. The member 72 is spaced'frorn the exterior sur- I ble'rnanner to'the in'ncr en d edge I8 of the member H or may bc integrally formed therewith. Secured in suitable manner to "the'outer end edge128 of the plate 24. is a ledge 30. The ledge thereof, supports a pi e en! surfaces 32 antl' M ou'nted on the flanges 36 and 38 are apair of parallel con-' nector'men bers; 40 and 42. respectively. The plates and 42. adjacent the inner-end edges 44 d6 thereoffare formed with a pairof transversely extending slots 48 and 50.

respectivelv' The'slots'ddand receive the flanges 36 and a flor mountingof the plates and 42 ontlte ledge 30. respectiveIy' Suitable means: such' as an adlfesive. or heatmeltin secures the connectors 40 and on the ledge 30. 1

The'plates Ml and 42 are ofidenti'cal construction. Only the plate 40 will; therefore. be further specifically described. The

aplatedt). at the I opposite-side :edges 52 and 54' thereof. is.

ra ned with'a pairof curved depressions and sum etively .JAt the outeientl thereoflith i m s i h l ed depression 62; I

'Theplates dll and 4} are so positioned that theiinner surfacesffl-thereof (one being .seenibear' against the .opposite- I side-surfacesfio'lonebeing seen). respectively. of the roll ll.

f he-piatesjwlanddl are of'sucb'lengthtthatthe' respective The plate cutting "facelof the-roll'lL'sdthavaslot 74 is formed -for'reeeiving me free end portion-"Kofthtapc of the roll", 1 I The member 72 is provided with tape-severing means, inthe; forin of a cutting edge 78, The cutting edge 78 is locatedat the I outer surface of the member; andadjacent'the depresadieu.-

w w The mamas operation of the tape dispensertflwill be I described with particular reference to FIGS; 2. The dispenser a it) isinitially mounted on'the roll of tape) l2. in the manner al-' of FIGS. 1 and 2, a resilient bearing member of the" dispenser. v

together with associated mountingstructure. being shown in a position of separation from the remainder of the dispen e v DEWHFHONIPF Itapeon the roll 12 is then drawn through the slot 74. and into structure;

Referring to the drawings,- andparticularly to rea ly describedil'hc outer'end portion of the bearing member 14 engages the interior cylindrical surface 16 of the Y roll 12. The connector plates and 42 engage the opposite r side surfaces 66 of the roll 12. respectively; The guide member t :70 engages the exterior cylindrical surface 68 of the roll 12;

while tape-engagement member 72 is spaced from the face 58, to provide the slot 74. The free end portion 76 of the.

I the position shown in l=l('i. I.

is shown a tape dispenser' ttl. constructed in accordance with the invention. The'dispe'nser l0 is shown'in-an operative'posh 'tion of being mounted on a cylindrical rollof'tape 1;. Theroll 12 may, for example'.-be a. conventional roll'of, dhesive tape'. Y

direction around the roll [2. as diagrammatically illustrated in I FIGS. 1 and}. The member, atthe outer-end portion 15 The dispenser l0, which intlteeitemplaryernbodilttent is made of plastic material. provides an arc'ua'tet resilient bearing member 14 (see also nos. 2 and a), The tnem'ber is mm example. be in the form of a leaf spring; constructed of suits,

radius of curvature as the interior cylindrical surface li'ofthe roll 12. which may be a suitable cardl qflrd core or the lilte. 1

I ble material; such as plastic, or may be ofstcelorthe like The member 14 is of'approsintately the samewidth as therolllll. An outer-end portion'liofjth'e member I is of the same The'bearingmember l4. at thelinner'end edge I! thereof. I

serves to support a mounting structure "for a tape cutting a's- When it is desiredto remove the tape from the roiltZ. the

dispenser I0 is manually rotatedin. a counterclockwise thereof. moves along the interior cylindrical surface I of the roll [2. At the same time; the guide member "follows the exterior cylindrical surface '68 of the nut 12. Tape. ,atthe free end portion 76 thereof. is freed for removal irorn the roll l2. Asthe thickness of the roll I) is reduced. the-resilien'tbearing 7 member [4 serves to draw the mounting structure 10 and tape-cutting assembly 22 inan axially inwnrtldirectiori. The guide member 70 and the tape-engagement inelnber 72 are thusrnaintain'ed in their respective operative positions. relative to the exterior cylindrical surface 6. of the roll 12.

I when the desired length'of tape has been freed. the'lree end sembly 22. l'hemounting structure 30' provides a mounting I portion 76'is placed against the cutting edge '78, and severed plate 24, which is of the same width as the member 14. from the roll 12.

outer endsoofthereof are positioned adjacentute 'eitterior j assemblyfn is supported by the respective I N outerflendswot' the connector plates dil antl'd l. Theplate l member-J0 is in the ru or abarib'eing located-adjacent the tes'pectiveside edges 5410! the plates 40, dzz and'being of a e'ngt h approximately-"equal tothe width of theroll I Z-L The r -1o ngages he"exteriorcylindrical-surface as of the The tape dispenser of the invention provides numerous advantages. in respect of both the manufacture and the employment thereof, as compared to the tape dispensers known in the prior art. The dispenser 10 of the invention, thus is of comparatively simple structure; is comparatively inexpensive; and is comparatively easy to manufacture. Furthermore. the dispenser 10 is comparatively easy to employ. As a particular advantage in respect of the employment thereof, the dispenser 10 is free-floating. Thus, the dispenser 10 provides an automatic adjustment in the position thereof on a roll of tape, to compensate for removal of tape from such roll.

It is to be understood that modifications and variations of the embodiment of the invention disclosed herein may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

lclaim:

l. A tape dispenser for use with a roll of tape having a curved interior surface, and an exterior surface disposed concentric to said interior surface. said dispenser comprising:

a. a leaf spring bearing member adapted to engage said interior surface. at least a portion of said bearing member being of the same radius of curvature of said interior surface;

b. a tape-cutting assembly adapted to engage said exterior surface; and

c. a mounting structure for securing together said bearing member and said tape-cutting assembly in said respective positions for engaging said interior and exterior surfaces, said mounting structure being secured to said bearing member radially inwardly thereof.

2. A tape dispenser in accordance with claim 1 in which said bearing member is substantially the same width as said roll of tape.

3. A tape dispenser in accordance with claim 1 in which said tape-cutting assembly includes a guide member adapted to engage the exterior surface of said roll of tape.

4 A tape dispenser in accordance with claim 3 in which said guide member is a bar. said bar being ol'a length substantially equal to the width of said roll oftapc.

5. A tape dispenser in accordance with claim 1 in which said tape-cutting assembly includes a tape-engagement member adapted to engage a free end portion of the tape contained in said roll oftape.

6. A tape dispenser in accordance with claim 5 in which said tape-engagement member is a bar. said bar being of a length substantially equal to the width of said roll of tape.

7. A tape dispenser in accordance with claim'S in which said tape engagement member is adapted to form. in conjunction with the exterior surface of said roll of tape. a slot for receiving said free end portion of said tape.

8. A tape dispenser in accordance with claim Sin which said tape-engagcment member is formed with means for severing said free end portion of said tape from said roll.

9. A tape dispenser in accordance with claim 8 in which said severing means comprise a cutting edge.

10. A tape dispenser in accordance with claim I in which said mounting structure provides a pair ofconnector members for securing said bearing member to said tape-cutting assembly, said connector members being adapted to engage the opposite sides of said roll of tape, respectively.

11. A tape dispenser in accordance with claim 10 in which each of said connector members is a flat plate.

12. A tape dispenser in accordance with claim 10 in which a mounting plate is secured to said mounting plate, said connector members being mounted on opposite ends of said ledge, respectively.

13. A tape dispenser in accordance with claim 12 in which a pair of flanges extend from the opposite ends of said ledge. respectively. each of said connector members being mounted on one of said flanges, each connector members being formed with a slot for receiving the respective flange. 

1. A tape dispenser for use with a roll of tape having a curved interior surface, and an exterior surface disposed concentric to said interior surface, said dispenser comprising: a. a leaf spring bearing member adapted to engage said interior surface, at least a portion of said bearing member being of the same radius of curvature of said interior surface; b. a tape-cutting assembly adapted to engage said exterior surface; and c. a mounting structure for securing together said bearing member and said tape-cutting assembly in said respective positions for engaging said interior and exterior surfaces, said mounting structure being secured to said bearing member radially inwardly thereof.
 2. A tape dispenser in accordance with claim 1 in which said bearing member is substantially the same width as said roll of tape.
 3. A tape dispenser in accordance with claim 1 in which said tape-cutting assembly includes a guide member adapted to engage the exterior surface of said roll of tape.
 4. A tape dispenser in accordance with claim 3 in which said guide member is a bar, said bar being of a length substantially equal to the width of said roll of tape.
 5. A tape dispenser in accordance with claim 1 in which said tape-cutting assembly includes a tape-engagement member adapted to engage a free end portion of the tape contained in said roll of tape.
 6. A tape dispenser in accordance with claim 5 in which said tape-engagement member is a bar, said bar being of a length substantially equal to the width of said roll of tape.
 7. A tape dispenser in accordance with claim 5 in which said tape engagement member is adapted to form, in conjunction with the exterior surface of said roll of tape, a slot for receiving said free end portion of said tape.
 8. A tape dispenser in accordance with claim 5 in which said tape-engagement member is formed with means for severing said free end portion of said tape from said roll.
 9. A tape dispenser in accordance with claim 8 in which said severing means comprise a cutting edge.
 10. A tape dispenser in acCordance with claim 1 in which said mounting structure provides a pair of connector members for securing said bearing member to said tape-cutting assembly, said connector members being adapted to engage the opposite sides of said roll of tape, respectively.
 11. A tape dispenser in accordance with claim 10 in which each of said connector members is a flat plate.
 12. A tape dispenser in accordance with claim 10 in which a mounting plate is secured to said mounting plate, said connector members being mounted on opposite ends of said ledge, respectively.
 13. A tape dispenser in accordance with claim 12 in which a pair of flanges extend from the opposite ends of said ledge, respectively, each of said connector members being mounted on one of said flanges, each connector members being formed with a slot for receiving the respective flange. 